DICKSON – When the call finally came, Trevor Daniel knew he could relax. It wasn't from an NFL team, but the former Dickson County and Tennessee Volunteers punter's agent was on the other line.

If no team selected Daniel in the draft, there would be an offer waiting from the Houston Texans, he learned.

Teammates congratulate Punter Trevor Daniel after he punted the ball out of bounds on the 1-yard line.

"It was, 'Hey, at least I know I've got a spot,'" said Daniel, a Dickson native who signed as a free agent with the Texans following the conclusion of the NFL Draft on Saturday. "That's all I really wanted was an opportunity. I didn't really care if I got drafted or not as long as I got an opportunity to prove myself."

Daniel has been proving himself for years now. His college career started when he walked on at Tennessee and ended with multiple school records, including punting yardage marks for single-season (47.5) and career averages (45.9). That success drew the attention of NFL scouts and an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine in early March.

There Daniel impressed in his measurables – he ripped off 23 bench press reps of 225 pounds, the only special teams player to even attempt the test – and during position-specific drills.

"I was very happy with how I performed," Daniel recalled. "I thought my training up to the combine had paid off. My hang time had improved a lot by the time I was punting at the combine."

Tennessee punter Trevor Daniel launches a punt while playing for Dickson County High School

Several teams showed interest in the 6-foot-2 punter, who trimmed down to a still-sturdy 230 pounds by the combine, but none more so than the Texans. Daniel received multiple phone calls through the months from Houston special teams coach Brad Seely, a 19-year NFL coaching veteran in his first season with the Texans, and even worked out for the coach during a one-on-one session in March in Tennessee.

"He's shown a lot of interest in me through this whole process so I'm really excited I get to go play for somebody that really wants me to be there," Daniel said.

Daniel will report to Texans' rookie minicamp May 10 for his first team activity. The Texans' roster features one of the iron men of punting in 41-year-old Shane Lechler, the NFL's all-time leader in career punting average (47.6 yards per punt). Lechler, the fourth-oldest active player in the league, has played in every game of every season of his 18-year career.

Daniel is one step closer to adding his name to the fraternity of Vols punters in the NFL though. Four former UT punters were on active rosters last season with six total having starting jobs in the past decade.

"It feels good. I've actually got a legit shot to stamp my name on that list," Daniel said. "I just want to do the best I can and hopefully I can make it in the league."